We should love the Lord our God with all we are and all we have, and love our neighbors just as much and in the same way that we love ourselves. That’s the way Jesus summarized the Law of Moses. So why should we continue to study the details of the Law? Because they provide lots of concrete examples of how the Ancient Israelites were supposed to express their love for God and for other people. And we can apply the same principles to our lives today.

For example, how should we love God with our money? Ancient Israelites were supposed to give a tenth of their produce to the Lord (Deuteronomy 14:22). These tithes were, at least in part, supposed to support the Levites, the people who were responsible for conducting the public worship of God (Deuteronomy 14:27). So, even though we don’t have to go to the Tabernacle to worship anymore, should we be any less generous with those who do the Lord’s work today? Our missionaries, church planters, and pastors continue to depend on others’ gifts. Isn’t helping them a way of showing our love for God?

But the people’s tithes were also supposed to support those who had no way of supporting themselves: sojourners had no land to farm, while widows and orphans had no man to provide for them (Deuteronomy 14:29). Moreover, the Israelites were to conduct all their business dealings in a merciful, generous way. They were to lend to other Israelites who were in need (Deuteronomy 15:8). They were to be fair with those who had sold themselves into indentured service, equipping them for their new lives when their time of service was over (Deuteronomy 15:12-14).

Our societies aren’t structured in exactly the same ways. But don’t we need to be just as fair to our employees? Don’t we still need to help those who are truly helpless, those whose needs aren’t met by the government-provided social safety net?

If we’ll open our eyes, we’ll find plenty of opportunities to put God and other people first, not just in the way we feel about them, but in the way we spend our time and money. And isn’t that what the Law of Moses is really all about?

Deuteronomy 14:28-29 (NASB)

28 “At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town.
29 “And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.